He is a fourth-generation kamaaina born on Oahu who earned a journalism degree from the University of Hawaii. Gomes has been a reporter for local newspapers since the mid-1990s. He regularly enjoys surfing, bodysurfing and skateboarding.
State lawmakers are considering diverting a state fund used almost exclusively to develop low-income rental housing to build apartments for residents with higher incomes — topping out well above what most people earn. Read more
Hawaii’s economy is in store for reduced growth due to indirect impacts on tourism from President Donald Trump’s global tariffs, according to two local economists. Read more
No one opposed Hannah Springer’s confirmation at the committee hearing where 308 people and organizations submitted supportive written testimony. Read more
Three state agencies have big ambitions to expand geothermal power production in Hawaii, and two somewhat competing bids for more funding are at a final stage of potential legislative approval. Read more
An effort to help alleviate Maui’s dire shortage of affordable housing by having a state agency acquire and convert commercial buildings to partial residential use has come up short at this year’s Legislature but still might produce results. Read more
Homeschooled Hawaii children might be required to appear periodically in public school if an idea discussed Wednesday by a legislative panel trying to prevent child abuse is realized. Read more
Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
Many local government employees in Hawaii may be able to rent or buy taxpayer-subsidized housing if a bill pending at the Legislature becomes law. Read more
A somewhat nebulous picture of homestead production by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands using the appropriation may be jeopardizing an effort by the agency to obtain another $600 million from the Legislature this year despite heavy backing in the House of Representatives. Read more
Ward, 82, died Friday morning after prolonged health issues kept him sidelined from the state Capitol since January and led him to resign Monday after representing his East Honolulu district, which includes Hawaii Kai, for 27 years. Read more
Ward, who was 82, had served as a Republican in the state House serving constituents in an east Honolulu district that included Hawaii Kai and Kalama Valley. Read more
Administrators of the state’s dormant Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund are preparing to begin offering hurricane insurance policies in June to one or more types of condo association properties. Read more
UHERO’s report estimates that banning transient short-term rental use of properties could result in losses on Maui of 1,900 jobs, $900 million in annual visitor expenditures and $60 million in property tax revenue by 2029. Read more
Hawaii’s biggest construction labor union is embroiled in a fight with the state’s largest electrical utility and a union representing over 1,000 of its employees. Read more
Gov. Josh Green has reversed course on a controversial path to fill a state water commission seat reserved for a traditional Native Hawaiian water management expert. Read more
The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands held a unity rally Tuesday at the state Capitol to pay tribute to Prince Kuhio a day ahead of his birthday and to counteract recent resistance to homestead development funding at the Legislature. Read more
The local economy, by its broadest measure encompassing the value of all goods and services adjusted for inflation, totally rebounded from the pandemic-triggered downturn in the fourth quarter of 2023. Read more
Hawaii lawmakers have been busy this year assessing whether there should be more or fewer ways to earn state income tax credits, a year after approving historic tax cuts that ramp up through 2031. Read more
More than 650 Native Hawaiian households are slated to receive advance homestead leases today for as-yet-undeveloped house lots in Kapolei. Read more
The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization surveys found that the proportion of displaced households with temporary living arrangements in February, 18 months after the disaster, declined to 45% from 51% a year after the fires that destroyed most housing in Lahaina and several homes in Kula. Read more
Hawaii taxpayers have a new way to see how much state income tax relief they should receive through 2031 under historic legislation enacted in 2024. Read more
One of the biggest local growers of fruits and vegetables, Aloun Farms, is seeking legislative backing to establish a dairy farm on Kauai described as a project to “revitalize” Hawaii’s dairy industry. Read more
